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Asus unveiled the ZenFone 5Z, a high-end handset Feb. 27 at Mobile World Congress 2018 that comes with a variety of artificial intelligence features. But its most notable feature is its design, which looks nearly identical to Apple’s iPhone X. Asus has caught the ire of Apple fans and some industry watchers that believe the ZenFone 5Z is little more than an iPhone X knock off. But Asus argues that its combination of high-powered cameras, battery efficiency, and quality design, will make it a standout in a crowded smartphone marketplace—even if it does look like an iPhone X. This slide show will examine the Asus ZenFone 5Z features to whether it just a skin-deep copy of the iPhone X or is good enough for smartphone shoppers to seriously consider if they want an Android handset with an iPhone look.

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ZenFone 5Z Even Has iPhone X-Like ‘Notch’

Smartphone buyers would be forgiven for thinking the Asus ZenFone 5Z was an iPhone X. That’s because the handset comes with a similar display size and a screen that nearly covers its entire face. There’s also a “notch” area at the top of the screen that houses the smartphone’s earpiece and front-facing camera. However, the bezel at the bottom of the screen looks nearly identical to the one on the Samsung’s Galaxy S9.

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ZenFone 5Z Riding the Snapdragon 845 Bandwagon

The Asus ZenFone 5Z is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, the same processor users would find in its top competitor, Samsung’s Galaxy S9. CPU chipset performance is bolstered by up to 6GB of RAM and an artificial intelligence component that maximizes its performance. It might prove to be one of the more capable handsets on the market when it launches.

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AI Feature Manages Battery Charging

The ZenFone 5Z ships with a 3,300mAh battery that promises all-day battery life. In order to achieve that, however, it has an artificial intelligence feature called AI Charging that will adjust the battery’s charging rate based on how users employ the smartphone. The feature should help to keep the battery charged whenever users need it, but also extend its longevity by not needlessly charging the battery when it isn’t required. The ZenFone 5Z also comes with Asus BoostMaster for fast charging.

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The Large Screen Adjust Color to Ambient Light

The Asus ZenFone 5Z has a 6.2-inch display featuring a resolution of 2,160 by 1,080 pixels. The screen has an intelligent display technology that uses sensors to adjust a display’s color depending on the ambient light. There’s even a Smart Screen feature that will keep the display turned on whenever a person’s face is detected.

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The Handset Has Decent Quality Cameras

Asus’ new smartphone comes with a dual 12-megapixel rear-facing camera. The sensor has a nighttime setting for low-light conditions and a portrait mode to take better photos of people. The second rear camera has a 120-degree wide-angle lens and a 12mm focal length to match traditional 35mm cameras. On the front, users will find an 8-megapixel sensor and a variety of camera modes designed to improve selfies.

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AI Helps Set Up High-Quality Photos

In addition to the hardware, the ZenFone 5Z’s software plays a critical role in its picture quality. A new AI Scene Detection feature helps the camera identify the environment in which a picture is being taken and automatically adjusts the camera to ensure a high-quality picture. An AI Photo Learning feature will examine how and where users took previous pictures and automatically create settings for future shots. The feature effectively tailors picture settings to deliver the image the user prefers.

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It Has Fast-Acting Biometric Security Features

fingerprint sensor that the company says, will unlock the smartphone in 0.3 seconds. A face unlock feature will unlock the handset in just 0.1 seconds. Either option can also be used to make online payments via Google Pay.

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Dual 4G LTE SIM Slots Enable Worldwide Connectivity

The Asus ZenFone 5Z has dual 4G LTE SIM slots, allowing users to connect to multiple networks from the handset. The feature is especially helpful for world travelers who want to access just about any network in the world. The smartphone has dual voice over LTE, enabling HD voice calls over LTE on both SIM cards.

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Audio Features Include ‘Smart’ Amplifiers

According to Asus, the ZenFone 5Z has some of the best-sounding speakers on the market. The device has two five-magnet stereo speakers and “smart” amplifiers that allow users to play audio at full volume without damaging the speaker units. ZenFone 5Z even includes support for hi-res audio files that have four times the quality of CDs.

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Here’s When to Get It

The ZenFone 5Z, which runs Android 8.0 Oreo will begin shipping in March, although Azus hasn’t disclosed an exact ship dates for the handset in specific global markets. Pricing will start at $499, depending on the version and amount of storage customers want. That makes the ZenFone 5Z substantially cheaper than the iPhone X, which starts at $999, and the Galaxy S9, which will cost more than $700 to start.

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